Ovelia Catjoa shares advice from her six-year ecstatic dance practice.
I spontaneously interviewed Catjoa when she joined our Sunday dance between flights. Initially, ecstatic dance helped her move through anxiety and chronic pain. Since then, she’s received the title “Moose Medicine Woman” for her intuitive guidance.
Catjoa, a Canada-based facilitator, felt her first ecstatic practices were inspiring and opening.
“I was like, oh my gosh, this is amazing. There was no pressure for how you moved, and I felt like it was helping me. I was meeting amazing people, and it led to a trail of meeting all these other facilitators, meeting a 5 Rhythms facilitator, and ever since then, it took off,” she said.
I felt inspired by her affirmative energy and enthusiasm. I asked questions about her dance and personal journey, who should dance, value in dance structures, and advice for beginners. As we talked, we sat sharing a picnic blanket on a sunny day surrounded by chatty, playful, blissed-out dancers.
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Getting Started with Ecstatic Dance
When I asked about advice for new people, she recommended having no expectations for dance practices.
“Go in and just allow whatever’s meant to happen; don’t try to force anything. If you feel uncomfortable, work with that. Don’t try to pretend you’re confident. If you feel confident, great, go with that,” Catjoa said.
Working with whatever energy shows up in all parts of my body feels freeing. Gabrielle Roth shares more about moving through different emotions in her bestselling book, “Sweat Your Prayers: The Five Rhythms of the Soul.”
“It takes discipline to be a free spirit. Taking up this challenge means diving into the mysterious depths of your own soul. Doing what I call ‘the five rhythms’ is the surest way to drop whatever you are carrying and to move beyond the baggage to a new you, a new body, one that is fueled by its soul,” writes Roth.
Catjoa also suggested getting inspired by others’ movements. Trying out new movement styles can help you get out of your head.
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Finding Your Ecstatic Dance Rhythm
During my nine months of ecstatic dance, I’ve appreciated the space to dance solo. I don’t feel pressured to dance with others if I don’t want to.
“It’s okay to be in your own bubble or interact with others; it’s totally your own journey. You’re meant to follow your heart, your soul, your body, your emotions, your energy. It’s really about the inner journey, and if it connects with others as well, that’s beautiful. It’s perfect. All perfect, whatever happens,” she said.
We discussed blocks that may come up for people trying out this free-form practice. Consider managing things like your comfort level, the length of the dance, and the amount of structure you work with.
“It can be way out of left field for people. You go to a space and think you’ll learn to dance and deal with your emotions in a healthy way. Then, there’s people like rolling all over each other and acting like monkeys. That can be really intense and too much for some people,” shared Catjoa.
She recommends exploring Roth’s 5 Rhythms structure as one way to find your groove. I enjoy working with the rhythms too – flow, staccato, chaos, lyrical, and stillness – at home and unguided dance events.
When asked if there’s anyone this practice would not work for, Catjoa feels confident ecstatic dance could benefit anyone.
“When people say they can’t or don’t dance or it’s not for them, I’m like, can you do this? Like, bob your head? You’re doing it. You’re dancing. It’s literally for everyone. If it’s not for someone, it’s their own mental block, or where they’re at. Maybe there’s something triggering; maybe not where they’re at in their journey,” she said.
I’ve found that a mix of psychology and resonant healing modalities helps me feel safer inhabiting my whole body in these journeys. I also regularly receive compliments on my dance style and beautiful energy.
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Considering Self-Expression and Training
As she explores many healing channels and facilitator roles, including ceremonies and meditations, Catjoa often integrates conscious movement. Sometimes, it’s a short practice in a larger event or a full two-hour session.
“It feels like this is something ancient and inherent in humanity. Even animals, they dance, they shake it out. They play. It’s a primal thing. Dance doesn’t have to be like ballet and looking perfect and trained. I like the term conscious movement, not necessarily conscious dance. You have more awareness of your movement,” said Catjoa.
The topic of trained versus expressive dance comes up regularly in my community conversations. Contact improv classes help with intentionally sharing and holding weight in a partnership. Partner dance classes can also provide some structure. However, you don’t need training for ecstatic dance.
Potentially, it’s easier to move authentically without training. Mostly, I feel like they’re simply different journeys. I trained in partner dance, mainly West Coast Swing, and solo practices, primarily pole dance, and I feel more confident having some frameworks to play with. However, understanding the deeper purpose of ecstatic dance took some time.
I view ecstatic dance primarily as a spiritual practice. I also get a good workout, enjoy creative expression, and make social connections. However, grounding in my healing journey and embracing the somatic processes with acceptance has felt transformational. I get to enjoy being in my body and in tune with my feminine flow.
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“Working out should be inspiring, like having a conversation with your body and spirit. It should be personal, intimate, and holy, not boring and painfully repetitive. A spiritual practice requires discipline, the willingness and commitment to show up not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, as well,” writes Roth.
Get involved in ecstatic shared spaces by searching for dance venues near you. The movement has been expanding to more cities worldwide and offers safe, sober places to process and create.
With space to move and music that moves you, you can start your solo dance practice today. Shake out unhelpful conditioning and embody freeing beliefs. You’ll create positive ripple effects in the world.
Read my previous dance articles for more inspiration:
Photo Credit: Steven Melter, ecstatic dance DJ
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